Leopard and Tigers in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
We began the day as usual, gathering for a morning cup of coffee before heading out to the park gate. The early morning air was crisp and clear today unlike yesterday morning. We decided to check a few areas where we expected to see some predator activity and hopefully our first sighting of “Blackie” the melanistic Leopard, but the park was unusually quiet, with the animals appearing to stay hidden.
Suddenly, we heard a single alarm call. Our driver quickly directed us towards the sound, heading to an area near the resthouse. To our surprise, we spotted a leopard casually scent-marking along the embankment by one of the waterholes. It was an exciting moment. The leopard not “Blackie” who we had been searching for walked calmly along the bund, crossed the road right in front of us, and disappeared into the forest. . Providing some excellent photo opportunities. Just as we thought it was gone, the leopard reappeared and walked straight towards us, offering an incredible close-up view before it vanished back into the trees. It appears that this Leopard could be a new male, that has possible moved into the territory. Which may have been the reason that Blackie had not been seen for some days around its normal haunts.
Tigress and her cubs at the waterhole
After that encounter, we continued our drive, exploring other parts of the park. We came across a few jeeps parked near another waterhole, and after inquiring, we learned that a tigress might be nearby. We decided to wait and see what would happen. After a few minutes, the tigress appeared, walking along the embankment and growling as she made her way to the water. She sat in the water for a while, still growling, before getting up and disappearing into the bushes.
Our guide, Kaustubh, and the driver suggested we wait a bit longer, and their patience was rewarded when the tigress returned, this time with her two young cubs. They came down to the water and settled in. One cub stayed close to its mother, boldly curious, while the other kept its distance, watching us cautiously from the bank. It was a magical moment, but with the park’s closing time approaching, we had to start heading back. We left the tigress and her cubs by the waterhole and made our way to the gate.
Afternoon Safari
In the afternoon, we headed back into the park, hoping for more sightings. We heard some Chital alarm calls, a clear sign that a predator was near by, but this time the elusive animal remained hidden. Although the predator never showed itself, the forest still had plenty to offer. We spotted Coppersmith, Green Bee-eaters and White-cheeked Barbets. A Green Imperial Pigeon and Black Kite also made an appearance, along with many other birds darting between the branches
As we continued our drive we came across a large tusker slowly making its way towards a waterhole. We watched in silence as the tusker approached, its massive presence commanding our attention. But just as quietly as it had appeared, the elephant turned and disappeared back into the forest, leaving us with another memorable sighting as we headed back to the lodge for dinner.
